Canonical URLs are a search engine optimization strategy that assists in avoiding the issue of duplicate content. It increases your website's appearance on search results pages and helps search engines index your website.
The search engine has successfully indexed the page. Which usually lowers the website's rank on search engines. Therefore, canonical URLs are crucial.
Search engines use canonical URLs to find which web pages need to be listed on search engines. It is crucial because it assists in avoiding the issue of similar content.
A canonical URL is required for the following reasons:
The various advantages of using Canonical URLs are as follows:
Avoiding duplicate content: Similar content on web pages can lower your website's ranking on search engines.
For example, a digital marketing company can have various web pages with similar products on each page and a unique URL. Using a canonical URL will assist search engines in considering the main web page and indexing it accordingly.
Increase search engine optimization: Canonical URLs assist search engines in identifying the main web page, which also increases its ranking on search result pages.
For example, a marketing company may have different pages, and using a canonical URL Improving your website's optimization helps it rank higher on search engines, increasing visibility to potential visitors.
Increasing visitors' experience: Canonical URLs ensure a better experience for visitors. Use this link to go directly to the main page.
For example, a marketing company must have contact details on its web page, and by using a canonical URL, your visitors can directly reach this page without making any effort, which makes their experience better.
Lessen the bounce rate: These rates reflect the number of people who leave your website after a one-page view. Using a canonical URL will reduce the bounce rate and engage visitors to your website.
For example, a marketing company can have a home tab and tabs related to its services. Using a canonical URL lets your visitors directly reach the main service page, which lessens the bounce rate and encourages visitors to search more about your website.
Increase the engagement of visitors: Canonical URLs increase visitors' engagement on your website and make it easy for visitors to access the information on your website.
For example, a marketing company may have frequently asked questions on all their web pages, but by using a canonical URL, visitors can easily gain access to the FAQ.
Assist search engines in indexing your website: Canonical URLs assist search engines in indexing your website, which increases the ranking of websites on search engine pages.
For example, a marketing company may have different pages with similar content. The use of canonical URLs assists search engines in determining that pages are identical and do not contain similar content.
Prevent penalties by the search engine: Canonical URLs are helpful in preventing your website from getting penalized by the search engine. It helps in avoiding penalties by providing information to search engines regarding the main page that needs to be indexed.
A canonical URL must also be added to a canonical link to the head section> of the HTML code. The canonical URL links are as follows:
<link rel= "canonical" href = "https://www.example.in/canonical-url/">
Here, the href is the attribute of the URL of the canonical page.
Canonical URLs can be used in HTTP headers by adding the following header to server configuration:
Header set content-disposition: attachment; filename = canonical.html
The parameter filename specifies the file name that includes the canonical link.
Various practices need to be followed for using canonical URLs:
Using a canonical URL on all the web pages that have similar content: You must use a canonical URL if your content is similar on web pages.
For example, if you have a web page related to products with similar information, you can use a canonical URL to emphasize the main web page.
Using the rel='canonical' tag in the head section of HTML code, the href is an attribute of the URL of the rel=canonical tag that specifies the preferred version of your web page.
For example: <link rel=canonical href=https://www.example.in/product-shorts/>
Use one canonical URL on one page: You must use one canonical URL on one page. If you use various URLs on a single page, it will create confusion for search engines.
Use an updated canonical URL: You need to update the canonical URL along with the changes in content. That assists search engines in providing the latest information on your web page.
Avoid 404 Canonical URL: 404 is a sign of error, and using this in a Canonical URL may confuse search engines. The search engine may show "page doesn't exist "if you use 404.
Ensure the emphasis is on the canonical URL on the latest version of the web page: It means the updated content.
For example, If you have a content page related to products, then you need to use the canonical URL for the updated information related to products.
Use of the self-reference tag: These tags point to oneself. You must use a reference canonical tag if you have pages in various languages. It helps search engines index the correct webpage.
Avoid non-canonical URLs from the sitemap: Sitemaps inform search engines about your website's structure and content. Using non-canonical URLs in sitemaps can create confusion for search engines that can index those pages.
The disadvantages of a canonical URL are as follows:
You can use these suggestions to avoid mistakes while using a canonical URL:
Avoid the use of canonical URLs on identical content pages: It is a mistake that people often commit. They didn't use canonical URLs on the content pages that are duplicates.
Use various canonical URLs on one page: Using different canonical URLs on one page can confuse search engines when indexing your website.
Use of an outdated canonical URL: You need to keep your canonical URL updated with the changes in content.
Use of a canonical URL for an irrelevant page: If you use a canonical URL for the least important page, then the search engine may not correctly index your page.
Characteristics |
Canonical URL |
Redirect |
Objective |
Assist search engines in finding the preferred version |
Redirect the visitors to URL |
Implementation |
rel= "canonical" tag is head section of HTML code |
<Meta> tag as head section of HTML code |
Impact on visitors |
It doesn't impact on visitors views on your website |
It has impact on visitors and you may lose the traffic on your website. |
Useful in |
Avoiding the issue of the duplicate content and restricting search engines from indexing multiple web pages. |
It fixes the link that is broken |
Practice |
It's used on similar content web pages. Use of single canonical URL etc. |
Use of correct redirect code and prior test to check its functioning |
Impact on visitors |
It doesn't provide any effect on visitors |
It provides effect on visitors. |
The various ways through which you can find the functioning of a canonical URL are:
The various things that need to be considered for avoiding canonical URL-related issues are:
Canonical URLs assist search engines in finding the preferred version. The search engine may need clarification about which pages need to be indexed in its absence.
Canonical URLs are handled by Google when finding out which pages need to be indexed. Canonical URL pages will be indexed by Google rather than the original if a web page has a canonical URL.
Google uses this URL to avoid issues related to duplicate content. In the case of various identical pages, Google finds the main page.
The various other sources through which Google handles the canonical URL are:
These are the ways to handle Canonical URLs by Google.
Google's handling is flexible, and Google does not stick to the canonical URL. You can monitor how Google handles your website's canonical URL using Google Search Console.
A canonical URL can be used for images or videos. Whether your content has images or videos, you can use the canonical URL for the preferred version of the content.
Canonical URLs have coding in machine language that is readable by search engines.
If your pages are identical, you must use a canonical URL. If your pages are different from each other, you are not required to use a canonical URL.
Various canonical URLs for the same pages may need to be clarified for search engines when indexing your website.
You won't get a higher rank on the search engine, and it may also affect your website indexing if you do not use canonical URLs.
You have to observe the source code, and you can use tools like Google Console and text checker tools to check the use of canonical URLs on your website.
You can use a canonical URL for images or any other type of content. If you have duplicate videos or images on multiple pages, you can use a canonical URL to specify the preferred content version.